Method and apparatus for mounting and controlling tension of warp beams of looms



2,413,223 OLLING Dec. 24, 1946. M. P. EPSTEIN ET AL METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR- MOUNTING AND CONTR TENSION OF WARP BEAMS OF LOOMS Filed Sept. 11, 1944 3nventor MOSES P. EPSTEIN AND CLARENCE-R. BARTON anormzg Patented Dec. 24, 194.3*

AND CONTROLLIN I BEAMS OF LOOMS G TENSION OF WARP Moses P. Epstein and. Clarence 1!. Barton, New

York, N. Y., asslgnors to Industrial Rayon Corporation, Cleveland, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application September 11, 1944, Serial No. 553,586

5 Claims, (01. 139-101) This invention relates to a method for equal izing tension of warp fed to a loom from a plurality of beams and to an apparatus for mounting the warp beams.

In a conventional to tension 9, warp by means of a rope wound around a beam head, one end of the rope being fastened to the rack frame and the other to a pivotally mounted lever carrying weights. This braking system while effective on individual beams is not entirely adaptable to a plurality of beams. The warp is usually unwound in a somewhat ierky manner due to the action of the loom. The tendency then of each beam of a plurality of beams is to unwind unequal amounts, thus creating different tensions in the warp from different beams. by the slip-friction method does not of itself,

therefore, provide for a uniform warp tension even upon a careful control of the braking weights due to variable frictional resistance of each beam-braking means.

This invention provides a method of uniformly tensioning the warp threads from a plurality of beams braked by a slip-friction type of braking means. Also, this invention provides an apparatus or a beam rack for mounting the beams in such manner as to enable the practice of this method. Generally, where a number of beams, as for instance twelve or more are utilized, it is desirable to mount them as near the loom as practicable and in a series relation. The beams are mounted six in a series, and in levels one over the other. Mounting the beams in such manner permits the passing of warp threads off the last or most remote beam over a substantial part of the periphery of the next succeeding beam, combining it with the warp of the next succeedingbeam,

and so on until, finally, all warp from each beam of the series is gathered as a single warp sheet that is fed to the loom.

The method of passing warp threads from one beam over a succeeding beam and interleaving it with the warp of the beam being passed over, combining the warps, then passing such combined warp over subsequent succeeding beams, etc., provides additional frictional control of each beam, stabilizing the tension of the warp therebeam rack, it is customary Braking of a plurality of beams between, and thus neutralizing possible excessive rotation of the individual beams when only the conventional weighted rope used. Further, the tension on the warp from distant beams of a series of beams is generally equivalent to the tension on thewarp between any two subsequent beams, and the warp stretch is much less than that of long, unsupported, not interlaid warp threads. This is so because the free length of any warp thread is substantially equivalent to the distance between adjacent beams which are positioned relatively near each other. As the warp is gathered from beam to braking system is beam, tension is spread through the warp so that Y the final warp sheet is substantially uniform in tension throughout its width.

Generallyi in weaving tire cord fabric from tire cord of .1000 denier and higher, the cord is usually supplied from a great number of cones or spools which may number several thousand, mounted on a creel adjacent a loom. These cones or spools are limited supplies and must be frequently replaced in order to furnish a continuous supply to the loom. Further, cord from these cones or spools is usually individually tensioned by special tensioning devices. Where a great number of cones are utilized, the uniform tensioning of all cord ends is extremely difflcult to achieve and a lack of uniform tension is, of course, reflected in poor subsequent performance of the woven cloth. The present invention may be applied with particular advantage to the weaving of tire cord fabric. By utilizing a plurality of beams to-supply cord warp, the invention permits a weaving operation over a long period of time and the warp ends on such beams are readily adaptable to a simple and substantially complete and uniform tension control. For a better understanding of the advantages of the method and apparatus 'of this invention, reference is made to the following description and drawing where:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic elevation of a loom and beam-mounting apparatus;

Figure 2 is an enlarged schematic plan view of the top series of beams.

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, two levels of beams, each comprising a group of six, numbered l0 through l5, and I6 through 2|, respectively, are mounted in planes, one above the other. Beams l0 through I! rest in adjustable open bearings 24 fixed on vertical supports 25, while beams l6 through 2| rest in adjustable open bearings 28 fixed on vertical supports 21. Vertical supports 25 and 21 are positioned intermediate each other to facilitate the mounting of beams in the bearings and bearing adjustment.

Each warp beam head has a customary weighted rope type of friction brake. The brake usually consists of a lever 3|! pivotally mounted at one end on a beam support 25 as at 3| and carrying on its unsupported end a group of discshaped weights 32. Rope 33, which may be sash.

the beams of each series rotate toward each other. Because of such rotation, the braking device must be alternately placed on opposite beam heads, otherwise, the'weighted levera woulgl interfere with each other.

The slip-friction braking devices utilized do not I By passing the warp of the last or most remote beam over a substantial part of the periphery of the next succeeding beam, then joining the warp of the succeeding beam, the cumulative warp then being similarly passed over the next succeeding beam, etc., until the final warp off the last beam is comprised of the total warp threads of the entire series of beams, the tendency of some beams to overrun is substantially minimized. This method of interlacing warp threads of a series of beams is particularly shown in Figure 2.

The direction of rotation of the beams is indicated in Figure 1 by the arrows'on the respective beams. Beam l5 rotates in a counterclockwise direction while beam it rotates in aclockwise direction. The warp from beam I5 is led down and around beam l4, Joining the warp thereof. The combined warp of beams i5 and II is led over the counterclockwise rotating beam l3 and interlaid with the warp of that beam; then the cumulative total is led down and around beam l2 and combined with the warp of beam I2; the accumulated warp is then led to beam H and combined with-the warp of beam ii; the enlarged combined warp is then further led over beam l0 and between a pair of spaced rollers 36, 31. The warp of the lower series of beams is through 2| is similarly handled. Warp unwound ofl beam [6, being the cumulative total of all warp threads'oi'! beams I6 through 2|, is also led between the spaced rollers 36, 31.

The two warps are substantially combined between the rollers 36, 31 to effect a single warp sheet of substantially uniform tension. The warp sheet is then led to a loom generally indicated at 40 from whence it passes as cloth to be .wound on cloth roll 4|. v a

As shown in Figure 1, the lower of the two series of beams is shown mounted slightly at an angle, the angle between the series of beams diverging toward the loom. Such angular mounting of the lower series of beams provides more working space between the beams as the number of warp threads increase. The arrangement of the two series of beams can, of course, be a parallel one. Further, a lesser numbe'r'of beams can be used in practicing the method described, or' a single series of beams can be used.

We claim:

1. The method of supplyinga uniformly tensioned warp to a loom from a plurality of beams which comprises mounting the beams in series relative to the loom, passing'the warp threads from the beam most remote from the loom over a substantial part of the periphery of the succeeding beam and adding to the passing warp the warp or the beam being passed over, passing the combined warp over a substantial part of the periphery of the next succeeding beam and adding to the combined warp of the first two men- 4 tioned beams the warp'ot the beam being passed over, cumulatively adding the'warp of all subsequentsucceeding beams to the combined warp from the beams .passed over as the combined warp passes each subsequent beam periphery. and feeding said combined warp to said loom.

2. The method of supplying a uniformly tensioned warp to a loom from a plurality of beams which comprises, mounting the beams in at least two levels, one over the other, each level being arranged in series relative to the loom, passing the warp threads from the beam most remote from the loom in each of said levels over a substantial part of the periphery of the succeeding beam in the same level and adding to the passing warp the warp of the beam being passed over, passing the combined warp over a substantial part of the periphery of the next succeeding beam in the same level and adding to the combined warp of the first two mentioned beams the warp of the beam being passed over, cumulatively adding the warp of all subsequent succeeding beams of the same level to the combined warp from the beams passed over as the combined warp passes each subsequent beam periphery, combining into a single warp sheet the cumulative warp from each beam level. and feeding said warp I sheet toa loom.

3. In combination with a loom, a warp feeding apparatus for rotatably supporting and frictionally restraining the rotation of a plurality of warp beams comprising, means for supporting a plurality of warp beams positioned in series relative to the loom, the said means supporting said plurality of warp beams so that the warp from the first unwound beam is adapted to be passed over a substantial part of the periphery of each next succeeding beam to frictionally restrain the rotation of said succeeding beams.

4. In combination with a loom, a warp feeding apparatus for rotatably supporting and frictionally restraining the rotation of a plurality of warp beams comprising, a first beam-supporting means positioned in series relative to the loom, a second beam-supporting'means positioned in series'reiative to the loom and on a different level than said first beam-supporting means, the said means supporting said warp beams so that the warp from the most rearward beam of each level is adapted to be passed over a substantial part of the periphery Of each forwardly positioned next succeeding beam in the same level to frictionally restrain the rotation of said succeeding warp beams.

5. In combination with a loom, a warp feeding apparatus for rotatably supporting and frictionally restraining the rotation of a plurality of warp beams comprising, a first beam-supporting means positioned so that the axes of the supported beams lie in a single plane and in series with the loom, a second beam-supporting means also positioned so that the axes of the supported beams lie in Y riphery of each forwardly positioned next succeeding beam in the same plane to frictionally restrain the rotation of said succeeding warp beams.

MOSES P. EPS'IEIN.' CLARENCE R. BARTON. 

